You're not listing top pairing Dmen, you're just listing your biased group of who you think the best D in the NHL are. For the record, there are 60 top pairing positions in the NHL. Now, somes teams have more than two top pairing guys and some teams have less. You could spend all day refining the definition of what exactly you mean by top pairing defenseman, but itd be a waste of time.

Because seriously, if you don't think Yandle makes the above list, you haven't been watching him play. He's better than several of the players you've mentioned and believe me, for him to drive play as much as he does on a team as bad as Arizona, and to be as well known as he is, despite playing in Arizona, if he was on a team like Pittsburgh, New York or Toronto he'd be one of the biggest stars in the NHL.
- James_Tanner

I was going to mention that too. 2*30=60

Yandle produces points at an elite level and plays 24+ minutes a night. He is a top pair dman
- Feds91Stammer

Of course he is. He's also better the more you look into his advanced stats. But you have to remember, the kind of people who think your knowledge of the game is based on how much they agree with you are not the type of people to think critically, let alone use anything but their biased view of a guy's reputation as a guide for how good they think a player is.

I was going to mention that too. 2*30=60
- Feds91Stammer

Well, in a league where counting stats are considered "advanced" you can't just go around assuming people can do basic multiplication.

Well, in a league where counting stats are considered "advanced" you can't just go around assuming people can do basic multiplication.
- James_Tanner

Larkin + Kindl + ? for Yandle??

I don't see why not. The Leafs are going nowhere unless they get a top-pairing Dman, they've already wasted enough of Kessel's prime and what else have they got to trade to get that Dman they need?
- James_Tanner

Tyler Biggs...

You would not get Gardiner and Nylander.

You could get Gardiner and Gauthier and Reimer

Although this is slightly over the top, he is right about a lot of things. Everything from James knowledge, or lack thereof, to the ideal trade return for Yandle.
- BodyCheckRadio

I'm guessing you mean ideal from a Leaf's point of view. The return for the Yotes is a joke

Tyler Biggs...

You would not get Gardiner and Nylander.

You could get Gardiner and Gauthier and Reimer
- Rang

You would not get Yandle.

Tanner, I just don't see Doan moving this year. He has a full NMC and has another year left on his contract. Are you under the impression he wants to live somewhere else after all he's been through? I could see it next year at the trade deadline if the Yotes are completely out of the playoffs. Then he could rent a place in his temporary new town and leave his home and family in (I assume) Scottsdale intact while he goes away on a business trip for a few months.

But moving for the remainder of this year and all of next year? Not gonna happen.

Do the world a favour and stop writing about hockey. You know absolutley nothing about the sport!!! Gardiner and Nylander for Yandle??? you are so delusional it's not even funny...you actually need to go see someone.

no team....not a single 1 would trade their 1st round draft pick for Yandle, not that he;s not good...he's very good. But Cap space is a major issue with most teams. The teams that have the cap room, are in rebuilding mode and have little use for a 28 or 29 year old D man that makes over 5 million a season.

If the leafs and Yotes make a deal it wil be for Lupul and Franson for Yandle. thats about as realisic as a deal that would happen, and about Cap reality.
- Kinggilmour

Why on earth would the Yotes want Lupul or Franson? If they are giving up Yandle and or Hanzal they will want something good in return.

And come on Tanner...Gardiner the next Yandle???

Why on earth would the Yotes want Lupul or Franson? If they are giving up Yandle and or Hanzal they will want something good in return.

And come on Tanner...Gardiner the next Yandle???
- ghostofRC

I would like to agree and elaborate on my thoughts, but I'm working on my diplomacy, and more importantly, my relationship with Tanner himself.

I would like to agree and elaborate on my thoughts, but I'm working on my diplomacy, and more importantly, my relationship with Tanner himself.
- Jeropotato

Why the (frank) would you want to do that???

Why the (frank) would you want to do that???
- ghostofRC

Trying to avoid bans, since my Alt account isn't allowed back until November 2015

Trying to avoid bans, since my Alt account isn't allowed back until November 2015
- Jeropotato

Pffftttt. Wimp. Real men get bans and accept it as the price to speak the truth!

I would like to agree and elaborate on my thoughts, but I'm working on my diplomacy, and more importantly, my relationship with Tanner himself.
- Jeropotato

Ha ! Fire away buddy, I enjoy the comments section more when you`re around, I`m not gonna get my feelings hurt....But I do think Gardiner has massive potential. I don`t think it`s ridiulous that he could be as good as Yandle one day.

Tanner, I just don't see Doan moving this year. He has a full NMC and has another year left on his contract. Are you under the impression he wants to live somewhere else after all he's been through? I could see it next year at the trade deadline if the Yotes are completely out of the playoffs. Then he could rent a place in his temporary new town and leave his home and family in (I assume) Scottsdale intact while he goes away on a business trip for a few months.

But moving for the remainder of this year and all of next year? Not gonna happen.
- yzermaneely

If the Coyotes are going full rebuild, which looks like they might, he might want to play for a contender for once. I don`t know him, maybe he wouldn`t consider it. They have to be honest with him and let him decide at this point.

Ha ! Fire away buddy, I enjoy the comments section more when you`re around, I`m not gonna get my feelings hurt....But I do think Gardiner has massive potential. I don`t think it`s ridiulous that he could be as good as Yandle one day.
- James_Tanner

You enjoy the comments section more when I'm around? Not sure that's a popular sentiment .

If the Coyotes are going full rebuild, which looks like they might, he might want to play for a contender for once. I don`t know him, maybe he wouldn`t consider it. They have to be honest with him and let him decide at this point.
- James_Tanner

I can't really see Doan forsaking his comfortable home life to pursue a championship. He just doesn't seem that competitive to me.

Yandle isn't a top pairing D-man. he's a 3-4.

Top pairing d-men:

Doughty
Weber
Keith
Seabrook
J-Bo
Peitrangelo
Subban
Karlsson
Ekblad (soon to be)
Chara
Vlasic
Giordano
Suter
O.E-L

I'm surely missing some too, but Yandle isn't one of them.


Sadly there aren't many true top pairing d-men out there, just a whole lot of pretenders. The rest are 3-4 guys forced into 1-2 guys
- BodyCheckRadio

Please learn more about hockey. Handle is EASILY a top pairing defender.

I can't really see Doan forsaking his comfortable home life to pursue a championship. He just doesn't seem that competitive to me.
- Jeropotato

Huh? I think you are confusing loyalty to an organization with a lack of competitiveness. Sorry, but Doan has always been a fiery competitor on the ice. Could he have bolted from the organization in the past, absolutely. But that doesn't mean he doesn't want to win or when the time is right he won't want to make a run at a cup elsewhere. It just meant that he and his family were happy living where they were and wanted to stay with the organization.

Huh? I think you are confusing loyalty to an organization with a lack of competitiveness. Sorry, but Doan has always been a fiery competitor on the ice. Could he have bolted from the organization in the past, absolutely. But that doesn't mean he doesn't want to win or when the time is right he won't want to make a run at a cup elsewhere. It just meant that he and his family were happy living where they were and wanted to stay with the organization.
- uf1910

That was a joke. All you have to do is watch Doan play one or 2 shifts to know he is, if nothing else, competitive.

That was a joke. All you have to do is watch Doan play one or 2 shifts to know he is, if nothing else, competitive.
- Jeropotato

Sorry I didn't get your sarcasm there. My bad.

Sorry I didn't get your sarcasm there. My bad.
- uf1910

Kid can't even read

Nice Leaf Fan baiting there Tanner.

Noolander won't be traded for Yandle unless Yandle is really really ridiculously good-looking. I can't picture what Yandle looks like, but chances are he's not.

Kid can't even read
- Feds91Stammer

Given how much insane crap you have to filter through on these boards cut me some slack. Besides, there was nothing there to suggest sarcasm beyond the insanity of the post which unfortunately is all to common on the Buzz

Why would you trade Kadri with the thoughts that Nylander will ultimately be his successor if Nylander is 2-3 years away from effectively replacing Kadri?
- Jeropotato

54 million tied up, 11 free agents to sign. There is your answer. Kadri and Franson are quite likely to be traded for pre-emptive moves, and Lupul, if there is a taker, will likely find a new home as well.